Originally posted by Jokerkaaos

Originally posted by zymurgeist

"Aventurine and Audiovisual signed a final agreement on the exclusive cooperation of the two companies for the publishing, distribution and utilization in any and all forms, in Greece and in 50 other countries, of the MMORPG named Darkfall. Audiovisual will pay royalties to Aventurine based on the predicted sales."

 

Predicted sales? Not actual sales? That has to be a mistranslation.

"I predict we'll sell fifty bazillion units. Pay me now because I'll be in the Cayman Islands on my yacht next week."

 

That line stood out to me as well, Zymurgeist. From what I can find, it looks like Audiovisual is a DVD/VHS distributor. Their website is in Greek.

 

www.audiovisual.gr

 

I am sure the DF fans (who are so happy right now) might dismiss it as nitpicking, but that doesn't do anything to convince me that the game actually exists yet. It sounds like they are trying to get an influx of cash based on those "predicted" sales.

 

Who gets to predict the sales, and based on what, I don't know. One would think the publisher would have legal provisions to prevent them from being scammed by empty promises, but again I don't know.

 

Anyway, this is certainly something for the DF hopefuls to chew on. I remain extremely skeptical, though, and I remain convinced there is no way they will release in 2008.  Also, I remain 100% convinced that no MMO can be "internally beta tested" by "professional beta testers," so if any client ever does emerge for the public to try, expect the game to be in a very rough alpha state - no matter what they are calling it.

 

So I offer a very limited congrats to you hopefuls, but I caution you to keep your critical eye open wide. After all, we still are just seeing words as proof of DF.

 

 

 

 

 

if its a mess we will know about it. noone here has said its not going to have issue we are waiting to see on that. but dont say it will with out any proof on it.
 

I think it will turn out like Dark and Light if it ever actually does get to public open testing

Originally posted by Aragon100

Originally posted by kilixen

So you think graphics that belong on a game 4+ years ago is superior to this??

 

That is a really ugly screenshot. That screenie turn me off instantly. Darkfall graphics with its dark and gothic settings is just superior any other MMORPG of today. Edit- means the graphic style of Darkfall is superior any other MMORPG out today. =)

This is a matter of taste of course.

But i actually do prefer this screenshot before the one you posted.

http://www.darkfallonline.com/gallery/races/orks_01?full=1

Lets stay on topic please.

This thread isnt about graphics.

Have a nice day

Anyway, that graphic shot is from Lotro. Not from Darkfall.

Good news to see the deal is finalized , and certainly indicates there’s a much better chance we might actually at least see beta this year then at any other time previously.

Unfortunately it does say:

“The Darkfall expect to allocate pilot in the international market in October 2008.”

So until Aventurine actually announce the beta date will be in October and then start it this is still not the official date or necessarily any definite indication of when it will start, but hopefully it is.

Audiovisual is trying to diversify from its existing business into online subscription services to remove the effect of piracy that has seriously been affecting its core business for years, they have also previously tried to expand into the TV and Film production sector.

They obviously are aware of how big the current potential profits for online gamming are and how much they are predicted to grow, whether or not Darkfall will be competitive in this market and be financially rewarding for them will remain to be seen.

They have no previous experience in online game development, production, distribution or publishing but neither do Aventurine, so at this stage, so close to official launch, this deal is obviously better then nothing.

“The Darkfall, from now expected to issue on-line games, belongs to the so-called MMORPG (Massively Myltiplayer Online Role Playing Games), namely games where the subscriber, through appropriate software and monthly subscription, it can connect at any time in the virtual environment of the game, which has created one or more virtual characters. Compared with existing respectively on-line games, the Darkfall offers better graphics, technology which allows simultaneous connection more users, more interactivity and increased options by the user.”

Translation:

Darkfall is a MMORPG:

With better graphics then any other MMORPG on the market,

Which is capable of hosting more simultaneous users then any other MMORPG on the market,

Which offers more interactivity then any other MMORPG on the market,

Which has more options for players then any other MMORPG on the market.

The first 2 are obviously objectively false statements, the second two we will have to wait and see.

I would like to know if AVE are just repeating this verbatim from what Aventurine have told them Darkfall will be, or given them the impression it is during their presentations.

Or if this is AVE’s impression of the game after actually playing and seeing the game demonstrated in its current closed internal beta state.

Or if this is just the usual marketing and promotional garbage, either way claims like this do appear rather unprofessional and seem to indicate a lack of experience and appreciation of the current market.

Originally posted by Polarization

Or if this is just the usual marketing and promotional garbage

That's exactly what it is

The graphics are more than good enough for what they're trying to do, in fact, maybe too good, which is why I really don't believe Tasos' statement on performance. But I guess we will see.

I don't agree with the statement that it's laughable to think that there's correlation between developer experience and potential success because there is. Not to say there are no outliers, but those are few and far between. An amateur studio given WoW's design document and resources wouldn't have been able to produce what WoW is today or its success, despite having all the tools.

What I understand from the wording of the agreement is that AVE is licensing or purchasing DF from Aventurine, thus taking control of the publishing and probably having the final say on the game, since royalties are usually paid the other way around. This isn't a bad thing.

originalegg, I'll give you the gentlemanly nod the moment you're right, but not before. I admit you have a higher chance to be right now so I am just not confident in my bet anymore to go through with it. Unless you're willing to give me 1000:1 odds. If you're certain of it, then I'm sure you'll have no problem with that, easy money for you, right?

For others, yes it's not a certainty that the game will release this year or at all, or that public beta will come in October, or that the game is good, it's okay to remain skeptical, but these are good news. Anyone even remotely interested in DF should be glad to hear this.

Polarization, every game in existence has claimed being the best or most <insert something> when even the devs know they're not, or when it doesn't mean anything. It's marketing garbage. Well, except Tasos seems to believe a lot of what's claimed, but he's no dev. Anyone rational knows that is not the extent or magnitude or quantity of features, but the quality and combination of them that can make a game succeed (or fail). Nothing can replace a hands on review (by oneself) when it comes to that.

relax he never said what settings was being ran.

he could been on mediums ettings for all we know or low settings who knows we will find out soon enough

Originally posted by zymurgeist

"Aventurine and Audiovisual signed a final agreement on the exclusive cooperation of the two companies for the publishing, distribution and utilization in any and all forms, in Greece and in 50 other countries, of the MMORPG named Darkfall. Audiovisual will pay royalties to Aventurine based on the predicted sales."

 

Predicted sales? Not actual sales? That has to be a mistranslation.

"I predict we'll sell fifty bazillion units. Pay me now because I'll be in the Cayman Islands on my yacht next week."

Remember, this is a "distributor" of dvd movies with no knowledge of how online gaming works. It would have been very easy for Aventurine to manipulate them.